Surfboard



March 14, 1967 F. A. LAMBACH SURFBOARD 2 Sheefs-Sheet-i Filed Dec 21, 1964 PH WM k .M X 4 k c 7 m Maw e Arrow 9 March 14, 1967 F. A. LAMBACH 3,308,493

' SURFBOARD Filed Dec. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QZF HWQ United States Patent Ofitice 3,308,493 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,308,493 SURFBOARD Frederick A. Lambach, Omaha, Nehru, assignor t Plastilite Corporation, Omaha, Nebn, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Dec. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 419,831 9 Claims. (Cl. 9310) This invention relates to water sport equipment in general, and to a surfboard in particular. It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved surfboard.

The advent of molding surfboards of expanded styrene beads has produced several problems to which this invention is directed for the purpose of providing an overall improved surfboard. Whereas surfboards were first used primarily on ocean fronts, now they are used on many inland lakes and waterways. The need arose therefrom to provide a keel which was adjustable, not only from a stand point of stability for different wave or wake conditions, but also to accommodate persons of different weights. Another object then of this invention is to provide a molded surfboard with an easily adjustable keel.

A problem arose due to the use of the foamable plastic type material in preventing damage to the bow and stem portion of the surfboard. Yet another object of this invention is the provision of exposed bumper means at both the bow and stem of the board.

' Concomitant with the molding of the foamable plastic body of the surfboard about a skeleton framework was the problem of locking the framework, of solid material, to the body to prevent relative movement therebetween. Still another object, therefore, of the present invention is the provision of means for locking the plastic body and the framework together.

It is another object of this invention to provide a surfboard wherein all the aforementioned objectives are attained, which surfboard is economical to manufacture, simple and rugged in construction, and effective in use.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the surfboard of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the surfboard of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outline of the body of the surfboard in dotted lines, and showing the framework in solid lines, a portion of the framework broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the bow of the surfboard;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the keel unit of the surfboard, the body shown in phantom and alternate positions of the keel shown by the use of dotted and full lines, certain portions cut away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line 77 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken along the line 88 in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the molded surfboard of this invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is comprised basically of a frame indicated generally at 11 in FIG. 3, a body 12 having the shape of a surfboard and substantially encompassing the frame 11, and a keel unit indicated generally at 13 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

More particularly, the frame 11 is comprised preferably of aluminum and includes three elements; namely,

a bar 14 (FIG. 3) which is the backbone of the surfboard 10, a rear or stem bumper 16, and a front or bow bumper 17. The bar 14 is T-sh-aped in cross section (see FIG. 7) and is bowed or curved slightly longitudinally from end to end as best illustrated in FIG. 3. Intermediate the ends of the bar 14 are a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 18 which are formed in the depending web of the bar 14. The purpose of these holes 18 will be seen hereinafter.

The stern bumper 16, best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is a short T-shaped element the web 19 of which is secured at right angles by rivets 21 or the like to the stern end 22 of the bar 14, and the base 23 of which extends to either side of the bar stern end 22, and upwardly and downwardly relative thereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bow bumper 17 is an elongated tubular element having a semi-circularly curved portion 24 and a pair of straight brace portions 26 and 27 with flanged flattened ends 28. The center of the curved portion 24 has an opening (not shown) formed in the inner, concave wall thereof which faces the how end 29 of the bar 14, and which receives a projection 31 (FIG. 8) from the bow end.

By this arrangement, the side portions of the curved portion 24 (FIG. 4) extend equidistantly rearwardly of and on either side of the bar bow end 29, and thence the brace portions 26 and 27 extend rearwar-dly and inwardly of the rearmost ends of the curved portion 24, and at equal angles relative to the bar 14, whereat the flattened ends 28 abut the bar 14. A rivet 32 or like fastening device secures the ends 28 to the bar 14. In side elevation, the bow bumper 17 is slightly curved from end to end in conformance with the shape of the body 12, but otherwise is primarily disposed in a single plane.

Before describing the body 12, it is believed best to now describe the keel unit 13. This unit includes a pair of elongated, thin straight plates 33 and 34 (FIGS. 5 and 6) secured as by rivets 36 or the like on either side of the web 19 of the bar 14 adjacent the stern end 22 thereof. The plates 33 and 34 have a depth greater than that of the web 19, and each plate is provided with a plurality of apertures 37 formed in the portion of the plates so as to be disposed below the lower edge 38 of the web 19. When the plates are assembled, the respective apertures 37 of the plates are all transversely aligned.

Slidably insertable between the plates 33 and 34 is a thin, keel 39 having in side elevation the shape of a parallelogram. The keel 39 has a depth considerably greater than that of the plates 33 and 34, as best shown in FIG. 5, but has a length, however, somewhat shorter. A plurality of openings 41 are formed along one edge of the keel 39, and are spaced longitudinally apart the same distance as the apertures 37.

Thus, the keel 39 can be removably inserted between the plates 33 and 34 with the openings 41 aligned with one set of apertures 37, as shown in by full lines in FIG. 5, and can then be moved to another one of several other positions as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 5, where the openings 41 are aligned with another set of apertures 37. Any type of easily retracted fastening devices 42 (FIG. 7) can be inserted through the aligned openings 41 and apertures 37.

The body 12 as mentioned hereinbefore is formed of foamable plastic and has the shape as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of a conventional surfboard. The foamable plastic is a commercially available plastic material charged with a foaming agent. The frame 11 with the keel plates 33 and 34 attached thereto, but not the keel 39, is placed in the cavity of a conventional mold apparatus (not shown), wherein the cavity has the desired shape of the surfboard body 12, and plastic pre-expanded beads are inserted therein. After the required heating and cooling processes are completed, the body is removed, encompassing the frame 11.

Importantly, the leading edge surface 24A of the bow curved portion 24 is left exposed, as shown by the shoulders 43 of the body 12 and the reduced nose edge 44 thereof. The surface 24A thus acts as a bumper. Likewise at the stern, the rear surface 46 (FIG. 6) of the stern element 1 6 is exposed by the body 12, providing a stern bumper. Furthermore, the lower edge of the plates 33 and 34 are exposed as are their apertures 37 to provide for adjustable alignment with the keel openings 41.

Also of importance is the locked nature of the body 12 with the frame 11. This occurred during the expansion and forming of the plastic beads due to the provision of the holes 18 in the bar web 19. Thus, not only is the body 12 formed about the frame 11, but it actually extends as an integral mass through the frame 11. It is seen, in view of the foregoing description, that an improved surfboard is provided; one of a molded nature which is rus-t proof and non-skid, one having an adjustable keel for greater stability, one having bow and stem bumpers of a metallic nature integral with the frame, and one wherein the body not only substantially encompasses the frame, but where it extends transversely through the frame to lock the two together.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described and disclosed hereinbefore, it is to be remembered that various modifications and alternate constructions can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A surfboard comprising:

frame means including an elongated bar bowed slightly from end-to-end;

a body of a low density material encompassing said frame means, and having the shape of a surfboard; and

keel means including a keel detachably connected to said frame means and extended in an exposed condition beyond said body, said keel movable longitudinally of said from one secured position to another secured position.

2. A surfboard comprising:

frame means including an elongated bar bowed slightly from end-to-end;

a body of a low density material encompassing said frame means, and having the shape of a surfboard; and

keel means secured to said frame means at the stern end thereof, said keel means including at least one plate secured to said bar and having an exposed, elongated portion, said keel means including further a keel adjustably secured to said plate portion longitudinally of said bar.

3. A surfboard comprising:

frame means including an elongated bar bowed slight- 1y from end-to-end;

a body of a low density material encompassing said frame means, and having the shape of a surfboard; and

keel means including a pair of plates secured in transversely spaced relation to said bar at the stern end thereof, said plates having a pair of exposed elongated portions relative to said body, which portions have transversely aligned apertures formed therein, and a keel insertable between said plate portions, said keel having a plurality of openings formed therein alignable with at least several of said apertures, said keel securable by fastening devices inserted through said aligned apertures and openings in a plurality of longitudinally spaced positions.

4. A surfboard comprising:

frame means including an elongated, slightly longitudinally curved bar, a short element secured to the stern end of said bar at right angles thereto, and an elongated element secured to the bow end of said bar, and having a curved portion the center of which engages the 'bow end of said bar and the remainder of which curves rearwardly on either side of said bar equidistantly therefrom;

a body of low density material encompassing said frame means and having the shape of a surfboard, a rear surface of said short element and a front surface of said curved portion exposed relative to said body to function as bumpers; and

keel means including a keel detachably connected to said frame means and extended in an exposed condition beyond said body, said keel movable longitudinally of said bar from one secured position to another secured position.

5. A surfboard comprising:

frame means including an elongated, slightly longitudinally curved bar, a short element secured to the stern end of said bar at right angles thereto, and an elongated element secured to the bow end of said bar, and having a curved portion the center of which engages the bow end of said bar and the remainder of which curves rearwardly on either side of said bar equidistantly therefrom;

a body of low density material encompassing said frame means and having the shape of a surfboard, a rear surface of said short element and a front surface of said curved portion exposed relative to said body to function as bumpers; and

keel means including a pair of plates secured in trans -versely spaced relation to said bar at the stern end thereof, said plates having a pair of exposed elongated portions relative to said body, which portions have transversely aligned apertures formed therein, and a keel insertable between said plate portions, said keel having a plurality of openings formed therein alignable with at least several of said apertures, said keel securable by fastening devices inserted through said aligned apertures and openings in a plurality of longitudinally spaced positions.

6. A surfboard comprising:

frame means of a solid material and including an elongated bar, said bar having a plurality of apertures formed in longitudinally spaced relation therein; and

body means of a foamable plastic material having a low density substantially encompassing said frame means and having the shape of a surfboard, said bar extended along the longitudinal axis of said body means, said material extended through said apertures to lock said body means and said frame means together.

7. A surfboard comprising:

frame means including an elongated, slightly longitudinally curved bar having a plurality of holes formed therein, a short element secured to the stern end of said bar at right angles thereto, and an elongated element secured to the bow end of said bar and having a curved portion the center of which engages the bow end of said bar and the remainder of which curves rearwardly on either side of said bar equidistantlytherefrom;

a body of low density material encompassing said frame means, having the shape of a surfboard, and extended through said holes, a rear surface of said short element and a front surface of said curved portions exposed relative to said body to function as bumpers; and

keel means secured to said frame means at the stern end thereof, said keel means including at least one plate secured to said bar and having an exposed, elongated portion, said keel means including further a keel adjustably secured to said plate portion longi tudinally of said bar.

5 6 8. A surfboard comprising: a keel detachably connected to said bar at said exan elongated bar; posed surface, said keel movable longitudinally of a body of material encompassing said bar, and with an said bar and said body from one secured position outer surface of said bar exposed; and to another secured position.

a keel detachably connected to said bar at said ex- 5 posed surface, said keel movable longitudinally of References Clted by the Exammer said bar and said body from one secured position UNITED STATES PATENTS to another secured position. 2,920,898 1/ 1960 Metcalfe et a1. 9-310 9. A surfboard comprising: 3,058,704 10/1962 Bergstedt 244-133 X an elongated bar; 10 3,137,873 6/1964 Garrolini 9--310 a body of a low density material encompassing said l bar, and with an outer surface of said bar exposed; MILTON BUCHLER Exammer' and AL'FRED E. CORRIGAN, Examiner. 

1. A SURFBOARD COMPRISING: FRAME MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BAR BOWED SLIGHTLY FROM END-TO-END; A BODY OF A LOW DENSITY MATERIAL ENCOMPASSING SAID FRAME MEANS, AND HAVING THE SHAPE OF A SURFBOARD; AND KEEL MEANS INCLUDING A KEEL DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME MEANS AND EXTENDED IN AN EXPOSED CONDITION BEYOND SAID BODY, SAID KEEL MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FROM ONE SECURED POSITION TO ANOTHER SECURED POSITION. 